Amid Hostile Reactions From Congress, RSS Hails Pranab Mukherjee’s ‘Greatness’ For Accepting Nagpur Invite

Amidst clashing views on former president and senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee accepting the invitation to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) event in Nagpur, the organisation has hailed his 'greatness'.

Mukherjee has been invited to address RSS workers at its headquarters in Nagpur on June 7, and he has accepted the invite. His decision, however, has led to hostile reactions from a section of ‘stunned’ Congress leaders.

A statement from RSS said, "This isn't surprising for those who know and understand the Sangh, because RSS has always invited prominent people of the society in its programmes. This time, we invited Dr Pranab Mukherjee and it's his greatness that he has accepted our invitation."

Meanwhile, there is concern in the Congress regarding the speech and the matters likely to be addressed and covered. According to this report, Congress spokesman Tom Vadakkan ‘made it clear’ that there was ‘a lot of difference between the ideology of Congress and that of RSS’.

Earlier, senior Congress leader C K Jaffer Sharief wrote a letter to Mukherjee requesting him to ‘reconsider and avoid visiting’ the event. Former Congress MP from Delhi Sandeep Dikshit said, “If RSS has invited a person with such views, does this mean that RSS admits that his (Mukherjee’s) views about the organisation were correct.”

According to the statement from RSS, its chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat will be the keynote speaker at the function. "Every year, for 25 days workers from all over the country come to take the training of union work. This year, the class started 14 May and will conclude on 7 June. In this, 709 volunteers are taking training from all the states," the statement said.

RSS ideologue Rakesh Sinha told the ANI that Mukherjee was not the first to attend an RSS event. Other prominent leaders such as Jayaprakash Narayan, N G Gore and Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan have graced its events in the past.

Sinha said, "Former president Mukherjee's acceptance to attend RSS event in Nagpur (Maharashtra) sends a message to the country that on vital issues there should be dialogue and adversaries are not enemies. Questions raised on RSS-Hindutva is being answered by his acceptance of the invitation."

On June 7, all ears will be on the tone and words Mukherjee adopts in his speech.